His Majesty King Mohammed VI affirmed that the Sahara issue is the prism through which Morocco views the world, stressing that it is also the clear and simple criterion by which it measures the sincerity of friendships and the effectiveness of partnerships.
In the Royal Speech delivered on Saturday evening to the Nation on the occasion of the 69th anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People, His Majesty said: "I send a clear message to everyone: the Sahara issue is the prism through which Morocco views the world. It is the clear and simple criterion by which it measures the sincerity of friendships and the effectiveness of partnerships."
Therefore, His Majesty continued, "We expect certain countries, among Morocco's traditional and new partners, whose stances concerning the Moroccan nature of the Sahara are ambiguous, to clarify their positions and reconsider them in a manner that leaves no room for doubt."
His Majesty added, "During the last few years, we have managed to achieve significant breakthroughs at the regional and international levels in favor of the Kingdom's just and legitimate position regarding the Moroccan nature of the Sahara."
His Majesty recalled, on this occasion, that many influential states have expressed their support and positive appreciation for the Autonomy Initiative, in respect of Morocco's full sovereignty over its territory, as the only framework for resolving this artificial regional dispute.
In this context, His Majesty considered that the firm position of the United States of America "has been a real motivation, a position that is not affected by changes in administrations or by new circumstances."
His Majesty commended, in this regard, "the clear and responsible stance of our neighbor Spain, which is well aware of the origin and reality of this dispute," affirming that "this positive stance has paved the way for a new chapter in the Moroccan-Spanish partnership, one that is not affected by regional circumstances or internal political developments."
Furthermore, His Majesty highlighted that the constructive position regarding the Autonomy Initiative adopted by a group of European countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Hungary, Cyprus, and Romania, will contribute to opening a new chapter of trust-based relations and strengthening the qualitative partnership with these friendly countries.
Parallel to this support, His Majesty pointed out, about thirty countries have opened consulates in the southern provinces, confirming their clear support for the Kingdom's territorial integrity and the Moroccan nature of the Sahara.
On this occasion, His Majesty renewed his expressions of appreciation to his brothers, the Kings, Emirs, and Presidents of sister Arab states, especially Jordan, Bahrain, the UAE, Djibouti, and the Comoros, which have opened consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla.
His Majesty also extended his thanks to the other Arab countries that have consistently confirmed their support for the Moroccan Sahara, led by the Gulf Cooperation Council states, Egypt, and Yemen.
In this framework, His Majesty also expressed his pride in "the positions of our African brothers, as approximately 40 percent of African countries from five regional groups have opened consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla."
His Majesty highlighted that this dynamic also includes countries from Latin America and the Caribbean, as several of them have opened consulates in the Moroccan Sahara; while other countries have decided to extend their consular jurisdiction to cover the Kingdom's southern provinces.
His Majesty affirmed that the cornerstone of defending the Moroccan Sahara remains the unity of the domestic front and the full mobilization of all Moroccans, wherever they may be, to counter the maneuvers of the enemies.
In this regard, His Majesty paid a tribute of praise and appreciation to the members of the Moroccan community residing abroad, who make every effort to defend the territorial integrity from the various platforms and positions they occupy.
His Majesty King Mohammed VI stated that Morocco is entering a new phase focused on strengthening national sovereignty, supporting economic recovery, and implementing the New Development Model. He also called on the government and Parliament to fully assume their responsibilities.
The United Nations praised His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s forward-looking vision for future generations, highlighting the importance of collective action to build a human-centered and sustainable development model. It also noted that this vision has become even more relevant in light of the challenges exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly social inequalities and the spread of misinformation.
The Council of the League of Arab States praised the efforts of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, to protect Al-Quds Al-Sharif and support the resilience of the Palestinian people. It also highlighted the fieldwork of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency in preserving the city’s Arab and Islamic identity.
